Shop Oasis

Spring Picks from our Retail Director

Bold aroma, intricate design, affordable luxury: these three traits are embodied in each of our picks for Spring.

Our shelves were recently blessed by the arrival of products by the local Dickson Hairshop, the hip new unisex salon in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Douse yourself with a healthy lather of Dickson’s Wash Up liquid soap (which they market as a handsoap but can be used as a bodywash), fragranced with a spicy, masculine blend of white pepper, cedar, and juniper. Keep the scent going by lighting a Light Up candle, which comes in a stylish mini-paint can. For the face (and for the ladies, the legs) the creamy Now Have A Shave shaving cream—unscented to discourage sensitivity and formulated for all skin types—is best before the soothing and similarly fragrance–free After Shave Balm.

The Ore fragrance by Zents is a no-brainer follow-up to the delightful Hairshop line. We enjoy the shea-butter and botanical-rich body lotion, the basic formula of which includes soothing chamomile and St. John’s Wort and is available in all of their supreme scents. Ore is also popular in their cologne and body wash, an earthy mélange of Bay laurel, clove, black pepper, bergamot and orris.

Both as a morning kick-start and as a quick and ‘luxe gift item on the cheap, Tea Forté’s incredible green tea blend of China Gunpowder always, predictably, goes off with a bang. We prefer the loose tea canisters that let you parse out how strong of a cup you want to make—not to mention how cool it is to watch the hand-rolled green tea leaves, which are meant to resemble lead shot or the eponymous powder, unravel in the cup before your eyes.

To keep with the artillery theme, we prefer the Tincture of Winchester candle by D.L. & Co., which is a smoky blend of wood stock, lacquer and gunpowder. The entire Modern Alchemy range has similar turn-of-the-century ‘tude, and makes for truly creative gifts or as mood-setters for your own soiree. For the hedonists, we recommend the best-selling Speakeasy candle, scented with sweet pipe tobacco and gin. If you’re feeling nostalgic for more innocent and magical times, try the Coney Island candle, smelling of (trust us, it’s really, really good!) sea breeze, cotton candy and cola.